Flexible cablelike formation of



July 29, 1941.

FLEXIBLE A. M. GOODLOE ',2,250;863

CABLELIKE FORMATION OF KNITTED METALLIC FABRIC -Filed Oct. 8, 1940' 2Sheets-Sheet l INVENT OR.

. ATTORNEY.

- July 29, 1941. A, M. GOODLOE FLEXIBLE CABLELIKE FORMATION OFKNITTEDMETALLIC FABRIC Filed 001' 8, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY.

Patented July 29, 1941 FLEXIBLE CABLELIKE FORMATION OF I KNITTEDlHETALLIC FABRIC llfred M. Goodloe, Montclair, N. J., assignor to MetalTextileCorporation, West Orange, N. J., a corporation of DelawareApplication October 8, I940, Serial No. 360,220

9 Claims.

This invention relates to an'improved material of indeterminate lengthand suitable cross-sectional shape formed from knitted metallic fabrictoprovide a body which is highly resistant to transverse crushingpressure and yet possessive of a high degree of flexibility along itslongitudinal axis: such material being of cable-like .form, of desiredcross-sectional shape, and suitable for many uses including, forexample, use as a packing or gasket material, with or withoutimpregnation by various other substances or incorporation therewith ofother materials; or as power transmission shafting of flexiblecharacter; or for manyother uses in connection with which a cable-likeformation of flexible characteristics would be desirable. l

This invention, therefore, has for an object to provide a cable-likeformation comprising a metallic mesh fabric made from knitted wirewhich, when subjected to pressure transverse to its longitudinal axis,is sufliciently hard to withstand comparatively high pressure withoutundue tendency to deformation, and yet of such longitudinal flexibilityas to permit the same to be readily conformed to desired annular shapeswithout stretching or substantially altering the crosssectional areaofthe body thereof; such ability being due to a compensating relativesliding action of the dnterengaged knit wire loops of the metallic meshfabric" from which the body is made, whereby differently located areasof the fabric, respectively subjected to longitudinal stretch andcompression, may be relatively elongated and shortened without working,bending or otherwise stressing or straining the metallic wire from whichthe fabric is made.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularlyenumerated, will be .understood from the following detailed descriptionof the same.

Illustrative embodiments of the novel cablelike body of knitted metallicfabric are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

.Fig, 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of the cable-like body; Fig. 2is a fragmentary side elevation of the body with successive portions oflayers of knitted metallic mesh making up the same b oken away so as toshow the relation" sliding play between intereng'aged knit loops of themetallic mesh fabric to which the longitudl nal flexibility orpliability of the body is" due, and

by which such characteristics are -attained without substantiallyaltering the cross-sectional area thereof or stressingor straining themetallic wire from which the body material is made.

Fig. 5 is a view similar'to that of Fig. 2, but showing a modifiedconstruction of the cable-like body; and Fig. 6 is a similar viewofanother modified construction of the cable-like body.

Similar characters of reference are employed in the above describedviews, to indicate corresponding parts.

In making up the novel flexible cable-like body, in one form thereofaccording to this invention, strips of knitted metallic wire fabric ofdesired length and suitable width are employed. These strips preferablycomprise tubular knit metallic fabric members which areflattened toprovide double ply strips; although it will be obvious that flat knitstrips constituting single ply strips may be optionallyused, A pluralityof such strips are used, varying in number according to the diametricsizc of cable-like body desired to be duced. a

For the purpose of illustration, as shown in PTO? Figs. 2 and 3, onestrip, indicated by the refer-v ence character I0, is laterally rolledupon itself to form a center member or core, upon which, in

successively applied overlying layers, are superimposed successivestrips ll, l2, I3, and It by.

respectively tightly rolling or laterally winding or convolving the sameabout the said core l0 and one upon'anotheruntil a body A of desireddiameter in cross-section is built up. The knitted ,loops of thethus'assembled strips are all disposed parallel to the longitudinal axisof the resultant body, thus permitting relative-sliding Instead ofemploying a plurality of strips,

-which is the preferable practice as above'set forth, the body may beproduced by laterally winding a single strip of knitted metallic fabricof suitable width upon itself, whereby to build up the convolvedsuperposed layers wherein the interengaged knit loops will neverthelesslie par- .allel-to the longitudinal axis of the body and thecompensating sliding play between adjacent loops will be permitted.

Preferably, an external cover member l5 of tubular knit metallic fabric.is applied over the basic formation to retain theelements thereofagainst disassociation; although other forms of retaining means may beemployed, if desired, and

in some-case's such retaining means may 'even be omitted.

The resultant body, formed as above described,

by the tightly laminated core and overlying built up strips of knittedmetallic wire fabric, will be sufiiciently hard or dense to stronglyresist pressures applied thereto transverse to its longitudin'al; axis,and yet, due to the play permitted betudinal axis, and consequently maybe easily bent 'into circular or other annular shapes of comparativelysmall radius without stressing or straining the wire strands fromwhichthe fab ric is knit. Owing to the permissible longitudinal slidin playbetween the interlinked knitted loops in either direction, the fabricelements of. the body will readily react to longitudinal stretch at onepoint or area thereof and to compression at another are incorporatedtherewith in association with the strip of knitted metallic wirefabricof which it is basicly formed. Examples; of such'amodified formsare shown in Figs. 5 and- 6 offthe drawings. In Fig. 5, in the modifiedconstruction therein shown, the core ll of the body comprise a length offlexible cable, rope 0: ,cord of textile, metallic or other material,

tween the interlinked knitted wireloops, will nevertheless be readilyflexible along its longi-l-m' aroundfwhich are'laminated the'superposedlayers of knitted metallic wire fabric II, l2, l3 and I4, and, ifdesired, the external tubular sheath or cover ll of. knitted metallicwire fabric. In Fig. 6, in the modified construction therein shown, thecore l0" and superposed layers of knitted metallic wire fabric i2 andI4, with or without the tubular sheath or cover ll of knitted m ta l c:,i e. fa ric, may be alternated with other point or area thereof whenthe body isflexed or bent along its longitudinal axis. This isschematically indicated in Fig. 4 0i the drawings, wherein a section ofthe bodyin bent condition is shown. When the body is bentlongitudinally, the areas of the fabric elements lying along the outwardportions of the bent section will be subject to longitudinal stretch,whereas the areas lying along the inward portions of the bent sectionwillbe subject to longitudinal compression orcontraction. Upon theseconditions, as shown in Fig. 4, the interlinked loops 3 located alongoutward areas of the bent section interposedlayers "it, of fibrousmaterial, such e. s.

as asbestos. This last described formwould offer "that all matter'contained in the foregoing description or shown in .the accompanyingdraw- 1:185 shall be will tend to slide away one from another, whereasthe interlinked loops C located along the inward areas of the bentsection will tend to slide toward one another. It will be obvious thatthese differ-- cut and opposite relative sliding movements ofinterlinked knit loops in the outward and inward areas of the bentsection will be mutually comse' will not be unduly stressed or strainedwith 'pensating, and consequently the wire strands per tendency tobreaking or other injury, and yet ahigh degree of longitudinalflexibility will char-;

acterize the body. Furthermore, any tendency of the loops whichslideaway one from another to elongate and thus laterally contract will becompensated by the tendency of the loops which slide toward one anotherto laterally expand, and consequently the longitudinal bending of thebody will not result in any substantial alteration of thecross-sectional shape and area of said,

body, nor will wrinkling or bulging occur along the inner areas of thebent body. ,2

The novel cable-like body, having the flexible and other characteristicsabove set forth, and

- in the form described, will be found useful for many purposes, such asa packing or gasket material, flexible shafting, 'as a cushioningemediumfor absorbing vibration in Joints and other mechanical associations, andas a base for friction materialssuch as brake linings. When used as apacking or gasket material, if so desired, the same. may be impregnatedor filled with any desirable liquid proofing substance, or it may beimpregnated with graphite, rubberor other plastic filler. Furthermore,when used as a packing or gasket, the body may be preformed to cross--sectional shapes other than the circular shape shown in the drawings,such e. g. as of squareor other polygonal cross-sectional shape, andthis without unduly impairing its desigfd longitudinal flexibility. v

The novelfiexible cable-like body may also be I provided in variouslymodified forms in which mxa imitins'sense.

f1. fn longitudinally flexible cable-like body comprising knittedmetallic wire fabric arranged in laterally convolyed superposed layers,wherein the interengaged knit loops of the fabric lie parinterpreted asillustrative and not allel to the longitudinal axis of the body, andwherein sliding. play is permitted between ion-- gitudinally adloinedloops toward and from each otherjthroughout the mass of the body.

j a s tifigitudinsiiyi flexible cable-like body "com osi n tmetallic'lylre alamnz in] laterally Icbhyolved sili l'm layers, whereinthe interen'gaiged knitloops'of fabric lie parallel to the longitudinal'a'xisof thebodm'and wherein sliding playvls permitted betweenlongitudinally .adioined loops toward and from each other throughout themass of the body, and a tubular cover sheath of knitted metallic wirefabric enclosing said body.

a. A longitudinally flexible cable-like body comprising a fiexible coreand knitted metallic wire fabric laterally convolved about said core inclosely hugging superposed layers, wherein the interengaged knit loopsof the fabric lie parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body, and

wherein sliding play is permitted between iongitudinally adjoin'edloops-toward and from each other through the fabric mass.

4. A longitudinally fiexible cable-like body comprising a flexible coreand knitted metallic wire fabric laterally convolved aboutsaid core inclosely hugging superposed layers, wherein the interengaged knit. loopsof the fabric lie parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body, andwherein sliding play is permitted between longitudinally adloined loopstoward and from each other through the fabric mass, and a tubular ooversheath of knitted metallic wire fabric enclosin said body.

5. A longitudinallyfiexibleUcable-like body comprising, a plurality ofstrips of knitted metallic wire fabric, one said strip being laterallyrolled .upon itself to provide a central core, a successionv of otherstrips being laterally eonvolved about said core in closely huggingsuperposed layers whereby the body is substantially resistant todeforming pressure applied transverse to the axis thereof, theinterengaged knit loops of the fabric strips being disposed to lieparallel to the longitudinal axis of the body, and longitudinallyadjoined loops throughout the assembled fabric strips being capable ofrelative sliding play toward or from each other when the body is flexedalong its longitudinal axis, to thereby compensatingly permit elongationof outward portions and contraction of inward portions of the flexedbody without undue alteration of its cross-sectional shape and area.

6. A longitudinally flexible cable-like, body comprising, a plurality ofstrips of knitted metallic wire fabric, one said strip being laterallyrolled upon itself to provide a central core,-a

succession of other strips being laterally convolved cross-sectionalshape and area, and a tubular cover sheath of knitted metallic wirefabric enclosing said body. V I

7. A longitudinally flexible body of suitable cross-sectional shapecomprising a flexible core and a plurality of strips of knitted metallicwire fabric successively laterally convolved about said core, thenterengaged loops of the'fabric strips being disp sed to lie parallel tothe longitudinal axis of the body, and longitudinally adjoined loopsthroughout the assembled fabric strips being capable of relative slidingplay in longitudinal directions under flexing stresses applied to saidbody.

s. A longitudinally flexible body of suitable cross-sectional shapecomprising a flexible core and a plurality of strips of knitted metallicwire fabric successively laterally convolved about said core, theinterengaged loops of the fabric strips being disposed to lie parallelto the-longitudinal axis of the body, and longitudinallyadioined loopsthroughout the assembled fabric strips being capable of relative slidingplay in longitudi-,

nal directions under flexing stresses applied to said body, and atubular cover sheath of knitted metallic wire fabric enclosing saidbody.

9. In a longitudinally flexible body as defined in claim 7 whereinlayers of fibrous materiafare interposed between two or more of saidconvolved strips of knitted metallic wire fabric.

ALFRED M. GOODLOE.

